Fluid flow controlling valve and system

ABSTRACT

A fluid-actuated throttling valve and system for controlling fluid flow through a conduit by operation of the valve. The valve is characterized by having a housing with an inlet and outlet arranged for fluid to flow therethrough and having a valve seat therein for controlling fluid flow therethrough. A mandrel is mounted in the housing and a valve closure assembly is mounted on the mandrel for axial movement thereon, with the mandrel extending through both ends of the valve closure assembly. The mandrel has an enlarged annular portion forming a fixed piston whereby an upstream and a downstream chamber is formed between the closure assembly and the mandrel. The valve closure assembly also supports a ram portion arranged for seating with the valve seat and means are also provided for flowing another fluid to and from the aforesaid chambers to axially move the valve closure means relative to the valve seat for controlling fluid passage through the housing. The system of this invention includes a pair of rotary housings, each of which has an inlet and outlet arranged for flowing fluid therethrough. A rotary impeller wheel is mounted for rotation in each of the housings, with the rate of rotation being related to the flow of fluid through the housings. Coupling means are provided between the rotors for transmitting rotational forces therebetween. Means are included for connecting the inlet and outlet of one of the rotor housings in a first conduit, and a closed loop conduit is connected with the inlet and outlet of the other of said rotor housings. A valve such as that described above is interposed in the closed loop conduit for controlling the flow of the controlled fluid therethrough, thereby controlling the rate of speed of rotation of the impeller wheels and the flow of fluid through the first conduit.

nited States Patent [72] Inventor Elva.1.Scroggins Lafayette, La. [21]AppLNo. 850,895 [22] Filed Aug. 18,1969 [45] Patented Nov. 2, 1971 [73]Assignee Drilling Well Control, Inc.

Houston, Tex.

[54] FLUID FLOW CONTROLLING VALVE AND SYSTEM 3 Claims, 2 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S.Cl 417/18, 4l7/l9,417/22,417/42,137/2l9,62/172 [51] lnt.Cl..F04b49/00 [50] Fieldoisearch ..4l7/42,43, 279,280,282,293, 300,l8-24;'415/l7,49; 62/402, 172,87

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 845,063 2/1907 Desper137/219 2,403,332 7/1946 Bevins... 417/300 2,512,438 6/1950 Ranzi....415/49 3,038,318 6/1962 Hanny 62/402 3,209,552 10/1965 Garrett 62/4023,252,298 5/1966 Andrews 62/402 Primary Examiner-Carlton R. CroyleAssistant Examiner-John J. Vrablik Attorneys- Paul E. Harris and Lee R.Larkin A BSTDKC TYA fluifictuated throttling valve and system forcontrolling fluid flow through a conduit by operation of the valve. Thevalve is characterized by having a housing with an inlet and outletarranged for fluid to flow therethrough and having a valve seat thereinfor controlling fluid flow therethrough. A mandrel is mounted in thehousing and a valve closure assembly is mounted on the mandrel for axialmovement thereon, with the mandrel extending through both ends of thevalve closure assembly. The mandrel has an enlarged annular portionforming a fixed piston whereby an upstream and a downstream chamber isformed between the closure assembly and the mandrel. The valve closureassembly also supports a ram portion arranged for seating with the valveseat and means are also provided for flowing another fluid to and fromthe aforesaid chambers to axially move the valve closure means relativeto the valve seat for controlling fluid passage through the housing. Thesystem of this invention includes a pair of rotary housings, each ofwhich has an inlet and outlet arranged for flowing fluid therethrough. Arotary impeller wheel is mounted for rotation in each of the housings,with the rate of rotation being related to the flow of fluid through thehousings. Coupling means are provided between the rotors fortransmitting rotational forces therebetween. Means are-included forconnecting the inlet and outlet of one of the rotor housings in a firstconduit, and a closed loop conduit is connected with the inlet andoutlet of the other of said rotor housings. A valve such as thatdescribed above is interposed in the closed loop conduit for controllingthe flow of the controlled fluid therethrough, thereby controlling therate of speed of rotation of the impeller wheels and the flow of fluidthrough the first conduit.

PATENTEIJMN 2 l9?l SHEET NF 2 R DE 3 Elva J. Scroggins INVENTOR mm .8 yMwii R 7 mm QM R ATTORNEY PATENTEDuuv 2 Ian 3 7, 151 SHEET 2 [IF 2 ElvaJ. Scroggins IN VE N TOR ATTORNEY FLUID FLOW CONTROLLING VALVE ANDSYSTEM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention Thisinvention relates to a fluid actuated throttling valve and system forcontrolling fluid flow through a first conduit. More particularly, theinvention is directed to a throttling valve within the flow stream of aconduit which, when activated for either closing or opening does notpresent to the flow stream any change in the volume which it displaces,nor does it depend upon the controlled fluid for activating fluid. Thesystem is arranged for the regulation of a fluid flow through a conduitand which system includes a valve of the aforesaid type.

2. Description of the Prior Art Many prior art throttling valves havebeen developed which are responsive to and actuated by the controlledfluid, but none of them is arranged such as to have a constant volume ofdisplacement thereto. The following patents are generally illustrativeof the prior art valves: U.S. Pat. Nos. 845,063; 1,362,331; 1,679,774;1,752,439; 3,113,583; 3,359,997; 1,321,750; 1,321,751; 1,483,991 and1,550.717.

It is also desirable to have a device for controlling the fluid flowthrough a conduit which can provide either constant upstream pressure,constant downstream pressure, or constant volume flow through theconduit. In carrying out such control, it is desirable to have a valveproviding a constant volume of operating fluid or control fluid suchthat no reservoir is required for such control fluid. One advantage ofhaving such a valve is that maintenance of control fluid characteristicsis made easier by elimination of the possibility of contamination byentrainment of foreign materials such as dirt or water. Further, sinceno reservoir is required with such a valve, air may be purged from thesystem and the control fluid main tained under positive pressure tominimize cavitation effects on the control fluid. Further, the humanaspect of assuring that makeup fluid is maintained is also eliminated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of this invention toprovide an improved throttling valve and system for controlling fluidflow through a conduit.

The throttling valve of this invention includes a housing having aninlet and outlet arranged for flow of fluid therethrough and a valveseat arranged in fluid flow-controlling relationship therein. A mandrelis mounted in the housing and a valve closure assembly is mounted on themandrel. The assembly has an axial bore therethrough and is arranged toreceive the mandrel therein at axial flooding relationship, with themandrel extending out both ends of the assembly. The axial bore throughthe assembly has an enlarged diameter portion intermediate the endsthereof forming an annular cavity between the closure assembly and themandrel. Means associated with the valve closure assembly and themandrel are also provided for separating the annular cavity into anupstream chamber and a downstream chamber whereby fluid pressure appliedto one of said chambers moves the closure assembly in one directionrelative to the mandrel and fluid pressure applied to the other of saidchambers moves the closure assembly in the opposite direction relativeto the mandrel. The valve closure assembly also supports valve closuremeans adjacent to the valve seat for seating therewith in fluid flowcontrolling relationship. The valve also includes means for flowinganother fluid to and from the chambers to axially move the closureassembly and the valve closure means relative to the mandrel and thevalve seat for controlling fluid passage through the valve housing.

In the preferred embodiment the ends of the axial bore of the closureassembly are of substantially the same diameter whereby the closureassembly, when activated, provides no change to its displaced volumeduring operation of the valve. Further, the means associated with theclosure assembly and the mandrel for separating the annular cavity intoan upstream chamber and a downstream chamber is preferably in the formof an annular enlarged portion connected to the mandrel forming a fixedpiston arranged for relative movement with the closure assembly.Further, the preferred form of the valve is to have the valve seatarranged adjacent to inlet end of the housing whereby the valve closuremeans is moved upstream thereagainst.

The system of this invention for controlling fluid flow through a firstconduit comprises a pair of rotary housings, each of which has an inletand outlet arranged for flowing fluid therethrough. A rotary impellerwheel is mounted for rotation in each of the housings, with the rotationbeing related to the flow of fluid through the housings. Coupling meansare provided between the rotors for transmitting rotational forcestherebetween, whereby each of the rotors rotates at a rate of speedproportional to the rate of the speed of rotation of the other rotor.Means are also included for connecting the inlet and outlet of one ofthe rotor housings in the first conduit. The system also includes aclosed loop conduit connected with the inlet and outlet of the other ofthe rotor housings and arranged for circular flow of a control fluidtherethrough at predetermined times. The system also includes a valve ofthe type described above, which valve is interposed in the closed loopconduit for controlling the flow of the control fluid therethrough andthereby controlling the rate of speed of rotation of the impeller wheelsand the flow of fluid through the first conduit.

In the preferred embodiment of the system, the inlet of one of therotary housings is tangential to the rotary wheel therein and the inletof the other of said rotary housings is axial to the rotor wheeltherein. Means may also be provided for sensing the fluid pressure inthe first conduit and/or means for sensing the rate of rotation of therotor wheels, and controller means responsive to the sensing means forcontrolling operation of the valve.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Reference to the drawings will furtherexplain the invention wherein like numbers refer to like parts and inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a generally central sectional view of one presently preferredembodiment of the valve of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a generally top plan view in somewhat schematic form of onepresently preferred form of the system of this invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to FIG. 1, thevalve of this invention includes a valve housing generally designated bythe numeral 11 which is comprised of an upstream section 12 having anupstream coupling portion 13 with a pressure sensor connector 14 leadingthereinto. Coupling portion 13 forms inlet passage 15 for receivingfluid which is to be passed through valve housing 11. Upstream housingsection 12 has an outwardly tapered portion which receives afrustoconical shaped valve seat 18 which is secured thereto as bythreads and which is preferably of a wear resistant material. Valvehousing 11 also includes a downstream housing section 20 having acoupling portion 21 for connection to a conduit through which the fluidis to be flowed and which forms outlet passage 22.

Interposed between upstream section 12 and downstream section 20 is aspider housing 25 having a pair of ring gaskets 26 and 27 at the endsthereof and sealing with sections 12 and 20. Valve housing 11 is heldtogether by a plurality of bolts 30 and nuts 31 circumferentially spacedabout valve housing 111, with the bolts 30 passing through flanges 33and 34 respectively of sections 12 and 20.

Spider housing 25 includes a plurality of radially extending spider legs36, the radially inward ends of which connect to spider hub 37, whichthereby provides axial openings for the flow of fluid through spiderhousing 25.

Hub 37 has an axial bore therethrough which is arranged to threadablyreceive in fixed relationship therewith a mandrel 40, the central axisof which is generally parallel with the longitudinal axis of housing 11and parallel with the central axis of valve seat 18. The upstream end ofmandrel 40 extends to a point adjacent valve seat 18 as shown. Mandrel40 is provided with a pair of passageways 41 and 42 which respectivelycommunicate with passages 43 and 44 in one of the spider legs 36.Passages 43 terminates in closing connector 46 and passage 44 terminatesin opening connector 47. It is to be understood that connectors 46 and47 are connected to any convenient source of pressurized fluid so thatpressure may be increased and decreased through passages 43 and 44 atpredetermined times.

The invention also includes a valve closure assembly generallydesignated by the numeral 50 which is arranged for axial movementrelative to mandrel 40 and is supported thereby. Closure assembly 50includes a generally coneshaped bushing 51 having retainer ring 52threaded thereinto, with such retainer ring 52 holding between it andthe bushing 51 a mandrel-wiping ring 51A, such mandrel-wiping ring 51Abeing of a resilient material stretchably circumventing the mandrel 40to provide wiping action and protection for the seals 53 and 54. Bushing51 and retainer ring 52 are arranged for receiving mandrel 40therethrough in sealing and sliding engagement therewith, with saidsealing being provided by the pair of O-ring seals 53 and 54. Bushing 51is also provided with a purging plug 55 for flowing fluid into and outof closure assembly 50 when removed.

Closure assembly 50 also includes an upstream portion 60 which isgenerally cup-shaped and threadably connected with bushing 51 as shownand which forms an annular cavity with respect to mandrel 40. Upstreamportion 60 has connected or supports at the upstream end thereof afrustoconical shaped ram portion 61, which may be of a wear resistantmaterial and which is arranged for seating with valve seat 18 and forcontrolling fluid flow therethrough. Ram portion 61 has an axial bore oropening therethrough which is substantially the same diameter as thebore through bushing 51 and receives mandrel 40 therethrough, as shown,for sliding movement therewith in sealing relation, which sealing isprovided by O-ring seal 62. Ram portion 61 is also provided with a purgeplug 63 which is used to flow fluids to and from the annular cavityformed between closure assembly 50 and mandrel 40, when removed.

Means are also provided which are associated with valve closure assembly50 and mandrel 40 for separating the annular cavity therebetween into anupstream or closing chamber 64 and a downstream or opening chamber 65,which means are conveniently shown in the form ofa radially enlargedportion 66 attached to mandrel 40, and having a pair of O-ring seals 67and 68 thereabout which sealingly and slidingly engage the enlarged boreof upstream portion 60 of closure assembly 50, as shown.

During operation of the valve described above, a fluid such as hydraulicfluid is flowed into the chambers 64 and 65 through passageways 41 and42 with air being purged therefrom by removing plugs 55 and 63 andthereafter replacing the same. Coupling portions 13 and 21 are connectedin a conduit through which the fluid flow is to be controlled. Thecontrol of fluid through the valve is maintained by the relationship ofram portion 61 with respect to valve seat 18. In order to close flowthrough the valve, closure assembly 50, and hence ram portion 61, ismoved to the left, as viewed in FIG. 1, by the application of fluidpressure to closing chamber 64 via passageway 41, while at the same timerelieving fluid from opening chamber 65 via passageway 42. Conversely,opening of the valve is effected by moving closure assembly 50, andhence ram portion 61, to the right as viewed in FIG. 1 and away fromvalve seat 18. This is accomplished by the application of hydraulicfluid to opening chamber 65 via passage 42, while at the same timerelieving hydraulic fluid from closing chamber 64 via passageway 41.During such opening and closing, closing assembly 50 slides axiallyrelative to mandrel 40. It will be noted that during operation of thevalve, the annular volume between closure assembly 50 and valve housing11 remains constant. This constant volume is maintained because of thearrangement whereby mandrel 40 extends through both ends of closureassembly 50, with mandrel 40 being of equal diameter on both ends.

Referring now to FIG. 2, a preferred form of the system utilizing theaforesaid valve will now be described. The throttling valve 10 of thetype described above is connected in a closed loop conduit generallydesignated by the numeral 71 which is arranged for the circular flow ofa control fluid therethrough in the direction of the arrows shown. Theclosed loop conduit 71 includes a first rotary impeller housing 72having a conventional rotor wheel 72a mounted therein havingconventional radially extending vanes such as is common to centrifugalpumps and the like. Housing 72 has an axial inlet 73 and a tangentialoutlet 74, the latter of which leads to the inlet end of valve 10 asshown.

The system also includes another rotary impeller housing 77 having atangential inlet 78 which connects with an inlet pipe 79 which formspart of the conduit through which fluid flow is to be controlled, as forexample the return mud pipe from a drilling well and in which it isdesirable to control either the volume or, more preferably, the amountof back pressure thereon. Rotary impeller housing 77 is also providedwith an axial outlet 80 which connects to discharge pipe 81 fordischarging the fluid therefrom. Rotary housing 77 is also provided witha rotor wheel 77:: the same as rotary housing 72.

Coupling means are provided between rotors 72a and 77a in rotaryhousings 72 and 77, respectively, whereby each of the rotors rotates ata rate of speed proportional to the rate of speed of the other rotor.These coupling means conveniently take the form of a common shaft 85 onwhich each of the aforesaid rotors is mounted for rotation therewith.

The system also may include means for sensing the pressure of fluid ininlet pipe 79, discharge pipe 81 and loop 71 upstream from valve housing11, which sensing means is connected to controller means responsivethereto for controlling operation of throttling valve 10 interposed inclosed loop conduit 71. These sensing means are in the form of anupstream sensor which is arranged to sense the pressure in inlet pipe 79and transmit a proportional signal on line 91 to controller 92.

The sensing means may also include a downstream sensor 95 which isarranged to sense the pressure in discharge pipe 81 and transmit aproportional signal on line 96 to controller 92. In addition, a sensor101 may be coupled to connector 14 of coupling portion 13 of valvehousing 11 and arranged to transmit a proportional signal on line 102 tocontroller 92. Connectors 46 and 47 are respectively connected tohydraulic lines 106 and 107 which also lead to controller 92.

Closed loop conduit 71 may also be provided with heat dissipator meansin the form of heat exchanger 110 having a plurality of flanges fordissipating heat and thereby controlling the temperature of the controlfluid circulating through loop conduit71.

In certain instances, it may be desirable to control the volume of flowthrough inlet pipe 79 rather than the pressure, in which instance shaft85 may be provided with a bevel gear 114 which is arranged to rotate thematching bevel gear of tachometer 115, which is arranged to provide anoutput signal on line 116 to controller 92.

With the system assembled as shown in FIG. 2, fluid pres sure inlet pipe79 can be maintained at the desired level by controlling the operationof throttling valve 10. Throttling valve 10 is controlled by operationof controller 92, which may be either manual or automatic in response tothe various sensing means described above, whereby hydraulic pressure isapplied and relieved through lines 106 and 107 to cause opening andclosing of valve 10 as described above.

Fluid flowing through inlet pipe 79 is tangentially applied to rotor 77ain rotary housing 77 causing rotor 77a to rotate and causing shaft 85and rotor 72a in rotary housing 72 to also rotate. Rotation of rotor 72ain rotary housing 72 propels the fluid in closed loop conduit 71 in thedirection of the arrows therein. By operation of throttling valve R0,the rate of flow of the control fluid therethrough acts as a brakingforce on rotor 7 2a in rotary housing 72, which in turn is applied torotor 77a in rotary housing 77, thereby limiting or controlling the flowof fluid through inlet pipe 79 and discharge pipe 81. By completelyshutting throttling valve 10, flow through inlet pipe 79 can becompletely terminated or, alternatively, can be controlled to thedesired extent, whereby back pressure can be applied on inlet pipe 79.Such operation might be useful, for example, in controlling the outletpressure from a drilling well wherein back pressure is desired to bemaintained on the well.

As a result of the foregoing relationships, opening of throttling valveIll) will permit increased flow through inlet pipe 79 and rotary housing77. As stated above, control can be exercised as to constant upstreampressure, constant downstream pressure, or constant volume. Shouldconstant pressure be the desired mode (either upstream or downstream),pressure sensor 99 or 95 feeds the pressure change to controller 92,which in turn applies hydraulic action to throttling valve 10 to bringthe pressure in inlet pipe 79 to the desired pressure level.

If constant volume flow through inlet pipe 79 is desired, then thetachometer signal generated by tachometer 115 is utilized by controller92 to maintain the flow of fluid through throttling valve 110 so as tomaintain constant speed of rotation of the rotor wheels.

To assist in continued observance of throttling valve 10, sensor 11011is utilized to apply a signal to controller 92. The pressure developedbetween vanes of the rotor wheel 72a in rotary housing 72 and thepressure sensed by pressure sensor 102 will be in direct relationship tothe pressure in inlet pipe 79 and will be proportional as to the sizesof the two rotor wheels.

lt will be seen that throttling valve it) is designed to operate eitherindividually or as a part of the system such as is shown in FIG. 2. Thesystem shown in FIG. 2 provides an arrangement whereby control fluidwithin loop conduit 71 will circulate in a continuous fluid column uponitself as regulated by throttling valve ill) and without any loss ofcontrol fluid, and hence no necessity for control fluid makeup. Such asystem requires no reservoir from which control fluid is withdrawn andreplaced. The solid column of control fluid is desirable for the reasonscited'above. The system as shown in FlG. 2 can be adopted to many uses,as for example, a pressurized wellhead permitting controlled dischargeto the atmosphere, one leg of a mixing system, or controlled hydraulicforce application into a piece of equipment such as a press or forge,for example.

The foregoing description is to be construed as illustrative only, andfurther modifications and alternate embodiments of the invention will beapparent to those skilled in the art in view of this description.

What is claimed is:

l. in a system for controlling fluid flow through a first conduit, thecombination comprising:

a pair of rotor housings, with each of said housings having an inlet andoutlet arranged for flowing fluid therethrough;

a rotary impeller wheel mounted for rotation in each of said housingswith said rotation being related to the flow of fluid through saidhousings;

coupling means between said rotors for transmitting rotational forcestherebetween, whereby each of said rotors rotates at a rate of speedproportional to the rate of speed of rotation of the other rotor;

one of said rotor housings being connected in said first conduit toallow fluid in said conduit to flow therethrough;

a closed loop conduit connected with the inlet and outlet of the otherof said rotor housings and arranged for circular flow of a control fluidtherethrough at predetermined times;

a valve interposed in said closed loop conduit for controlling the Howof said control fluid therethrough and thereby controlling the rate ofspeed of rotation of said impeller wheels and the flow of fluid throughsaid first conduit; said valve including:

a valve housing having an inlet and an outlet arranged for flow of saidcontrol fluid therethrough, and a valve seat arranged in fluid flowcontrolling relationship therein;

a mandrel mounted in said housing;

a valve closure assembly having an axial bore therethrough and arrangedto receive said mandrel therein in axial sliding relationship therewith,with said axial bore having an enlarged diameter portion intermediatethe ends thereof forming an annular cavity between said closure assemblyand said mandrel;

means associated with said valve closure assembly and said mandrel forseparating said annular cavity into an upstream chamber and a downstreamchamber whereby fluid pressure applied to one of said chambers movessaid assembly in one direction relative to said mandrel, and fluidpressure applied to the other of said chambers moves said assembly inthe opposite direction relative to said mandrel;

a valve closure means connected with said assembly and supportedadjacent said valve seat for seating in fluid flow controllingrelationship therewith;

and, means for flowing another fluid to and from said chambers toaxially move said assembly and said valve closure means relative to saidmandrel and said valve seat for controlling fluid passage through saidvalve housing.

2. The invention as claimed in claim 1 including:

means for sensing the pressure of fluid in said first conduit and insaid loop conduit;

and, controller means responsive to said sensing means for controllingoperation of said valve.

3. The invention as claimed in claim 1 including:

means connected with said coupling means for sensing the rate ofrotation of said rotor wheels;

and, controller means responsive to said sensing means for controllingoperation of said valve.

1. In a system for controlling fluid flow through a first conduit, thecombination comprising: a pair of rotor housings, with each of saidhousings having an inlet and outlet arranged for flowing fluidtherethrough; a rotary impeller wheel mounted for rotation in each ofsaid housings with said rotation being related to the flow of fluidthrough said housings; coupling means between said rotors fortransmitting rotational forces therebetween, whereby each of said rotorsrotates at a rate of speed proportional to the rate of speed of rotationof the other rotor; one of said rotor housings being connected in saidfirst conduit to allow fluid in said conduit to flow therethrough; aclosed loop conduit connected with the inlet and outlet of the other ofsaid rotor housings and arranged for circular flow of a control fluidtherethrough at predetermined times; a valve interposed in said closedloop conduit for controlling the flow of said control fluidtherethrough, and thereby controlling the rate of speed of rotation ofsaid impeller wheels and the flow of fluid through said first conduit;said valve including: a valve housing having an inlet and an outletarranged for flow of said control fluid therethrough, and a valve seatarranged in fluid flow controlling relationship therein; a mandrelmounted in said housing; a valve closure assembly having an axial boretherethrough and arranged to receive said mandrel therein in axialsliding relationship therewith, with said axial bore having an enlargeddiameter portion intermediate the ends thereof forming an annular cavitybetween said closure assembly and said mandrel; means associated withsaid valve closure assembly and said mandrel for separating said annularcavity into an upstream chamber and a downstream chamber whereby fluidpressure applied to one of said chambers moves said assembly in onedirection relative to said mandrel, and fluid pressure applied to theother of said chambers moves said assembly in the opposite directionrelative to said mandrel; a valve closure means connected with saidassembly and supported adjacent said valve seat for seating in fluidflow controlling relationship therewith; and, means for flowing anotherfluid to and from said chambers to axially move said assembly and saidvalve closure means relative to said mandrel and said valve seat forcontrolling fluid passage through said valve housing.
 2. The inventionas claimed in claim 1 including: means for sensing the pressure of fluidin said first conduit and in said loop conduit; and, controller meansresponsive to said sensing means for controlling operation of saidvalve.
 3. The invention as claimed in claim 1 including: means connectedwith said coupling means for sensing the rate of rotation of said rotorwheels; and, controller means responsive to said sensing means forcontrolling operation of said valve.